THE 32-year-old who grew up in Edinburgh, was on a ski touring holiday with her fiance when the accident happened in the Bernia range.

A SCOTS scientist has died after falling 1000ft while skiing in the Swiss Alps.

Catriona Neath was rushed to hospital with severe head injuries but died the next day.

The 32-year-old had been on a ski touring holiday with fiance Peter Davies, 34, when the accident happened in the Bernia range.

Last night, a source close to the couple said: “This is so tragic. Catriona and Peter loved their ski touring trips and were both confident skiers.”

Catriona was born in Switzerland but grew up in Edinburgh.

She was recently living in Sheffield, where she worked as an environmental scientist with multinational design and consulting firm Arup. She had worked for the firm for 10 years after graduating from Leeds University with a masters’ degree in geochemistry.

Catriona’s sister Susannah, who lives in Switzerland, and her dad John, 67, travelled to the town of Chur following the tragedy on April 10.

John, of Edinburgh, said: “This has been a very difficult time for the whole family. We’re still in shock. I don’t think it will sink in until after the funeral.”

Catriona and Peter were outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Catriona and Peter on an earlier trip

Her Facebook page features photos of previous skiing trips to Switzerland, Norway and the Serre Chevalier resort in the French Alps.

The couple also posted videos of themselves skiing on trips to Scotland.

Catriona had done humanitarian work in Africa, helping to provide clean water in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Aid charity Ashanti Development said: “We are all so very sorry to hear this news.”